Uncle — Restaurant in Denver

Overpriced, overrated, and underwhelming.

I have been on a journey to find the best ramen since I moved here and keep getting told to try Uncle. I've been hesitant because of their extremely small and uninclusive ramen menu, but finally gave it a shot. To say the least, I was less than impressed.

I'll start with what I did like. I got the spicy chicken ramen and the chicken was great, flavorful, and really well cooked. The broth was also interesting. It could have been spicier but it wasn't so spicy you couldn't eat it. Very mild.

As for what I didn't like. I'll be real, $14.50 for what I'd call a small bowl of ramen is steep. I've had bigger bowls of cereal than the ramen I was given. I also just expected a lot more. The bowl consisted of the broth, noodles, green onion, bean sprouts and egg. For me, the egg went right in the trash. There wasn't more than a tablespoon of green onion, though there was a good amount of noodles and bean sprouts. I was quite surprised to see how basic the ramen was, but stayed open-minded because more doesn't necessarily mean better. The broth was also strange to me. It was very creamy, which I was not expecting. And while the creamy broth wasn't bad, it did throw me. After eating a couple bites I started to find myself bored with the ramen. The broth and chicken were flavorful, but the more I ate of the same flavors, the more boring and bland it was. There was just not enough diversity in the bowl. I truly expected more from such a hyped up and expensive ramen. Unfortunately in this case, basic was not better. If the ramen was cheaper I'd even consider going back and giving them another shot, but for the price this ramen was not worth it by any stretch of the imagination, especially with such a tiny menu. There were only 4 or 5 ramen options, with only 1 being a vegetarian friendly. And other than the veggie option, none of the ramen was suitable for someone who doesn't like/want pork.

In conclusion, the hype for Uncle is completely misplaced. I have had cheaper, better ramen in Denver from restaurants with more than 4 options. Don't waste your money,...

I understand that everyone has their own palette, and feel more inclined to support local Colorado businesses; however, I don't understand how this place has been deemed "the best Ramen in Colorado." The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one, is because the Salmon Crudo was that amazing. Probably some of the best I've ever had. But when it came to the ramens my fiancé and I ordered, I don't really see why we would ever want to spend our money there ever again. Most people from Denver will probably agree that this is the best ramen they've had: probably because they've never had authentic ramen before. What is evident is that a lot of money has gone into this place, probably from someone who has no authentic or actual experience working in an actual shop; which explains why the salmon was so great and the ramen was so opposite of that. Bland, oily, and unoriginal. If you're going to experiment with new flavors and make yourselves unique, then do that. But instead Uncle serves bland, flavorless, and oily imitations of what great traditional ramen should be. The Pork Chasu, is not actual chasu. The vegan curry ramen was reminiscent of curry, but didn't seem to be an actual curry made in house. The noodles are definitely not made in house. And without a spice bomb, the broth has no flavor. I added a soft egg to my ramen and it came out ice cold. The toppings listed on the menu are not what show up in your bowl, and even if you order an additional topping or two, there's a 50/50 chance it won't make it in. I honestly have never been more disappointed In a ramen, and for spending over a hundred dollars there, I feel almost cheated. I don't understand the hype, and I don't care if my opinion is an unpopular one. The service was lackluster, with no real attention to customers or to detail. Just all felt very rushed and radiated energy of a business that was only in the game to make money. If you want the actual best ramen in Colorado, go to Neko Ramen on Colorado Blvd. Stop wasting your money at your...

Keep in mind: I gave this spot a FIVE star rating, but have ONLY ever had their Khao Soi, a slurp of the chicken ramen and maybe a bite or two of something else (can't recall). I come here strictly for the Northen Thai dish, Khao Soi, that I would eat during my travels all over Chaing Mai, Thailand. This is obvi an upgraded version of my $1 dish on the streets, sitting on a milk crate, with a cat laying on my foot while overseas, but ooooh baby is she DELISH. For 23 dollars (after the addition of a protein-- i get duck) you will be in absolute FATTY indulgence heaven.

I never leave feeling icky from all the coconut milk, oil, dreamy egg noodles, etc. Rather I feel like a goddess on a throne in need of a bubble bath. Every bite of the dish makes you wanna' keep on comin' back for more. So creamy. Rich yet delicate. Comforting. Wholesome, yet not your mama's food. It's just good.

The vibe is fabulous. I have been to both locations but prefer the LoHi destination for the open bar concept that is intimate and more inviting. The chefs and I make eye contact (which gets me feelin some type of way) and I can't help but be immersed in the atmosphere.

The servers are fine. Nothing too crazy. I have been in the service industry for 15+ years in NYC to my expectations are usually higher than most, but they get the job done. I don't, however, dig their 15 minutes policy-- if you show up but your date/friend/whatever the f doesn't show up with you, and lets just say theyre 15 minutes late....I have to choose whether I'm going to have that meal ALONE or miss my reservation. It's REDONK. I understand BOTH being late for the reso but i cant help it if my buddy is late-- i mean give me a break and let me eat my noods! (sorry i'll calm down now).

Overall, great spot for...